Cover for tumblers or other vessels.



P N U S B 0 L F COVER FOR TUMBLERS OR'OTHER VESSELS.

(Application filed Qct. 8, 1901.)

(No Model.)

fill/ff! WWW/WI -WI TNE SSE 8 ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES FRANK LEE Jonson, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

COVER FOR TUMBLERS OR OTHER VES SELS.

SFECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,653, dated May 20, 1902.

Application filed October 8, 1901. Serial No. 77,980. (No model.)

1'0 all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK LEE JOBSON, of

Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Covers for'lumblers or other Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to an improvement in elastic covers for tumblers, goblets, glasses, cups, &c., having means for attachinga spoon thereto.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective cover for such articles as cups, goblets, tumblers, &c., such as will efiectually cover the same and prevent the ingress of air, odors, dust, germs, insects, &c., and which at the same time serves the purpose of a spoon-holder.

To these ends my invention consists of an elastic cover or cap provided with a thickened portion or ring at its base, said ring being provided with a spoon-holding jaw attachment.

It further consists in the special construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device applied to a tumbler. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cover or cap detached from the tumbler. Fig. 3 is a crosssection of the cover or cap in its normal shape and condition. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through a tumbler with my device applied thereto. Fig. 5 is a plan view of my device applied to a tumbler or cup. Fig. 6 is a view of a modification. Fig. 7 is a view of aInodified form. Fig. 8 is a view of another modification.

A represents a cup or tumblerof ordinary construction.

B is the cover or cap, which is made of rubber of the proper consistency, which will preferably be about that of the ordinary nursingbottle nipples, which by virtue of its elasticity can be readily manipulated. The cover or cap B is made ofa size from one-fourth to one-third less than thediameter of the vessel which is to be covered and has a downwardly-projecting or pendent curved portion A, which is less .in diameter than the top portion of the cap. The lower end of this downwardly-projecting portion is thickened or formed into an annular ring or head A The object in making the cover with its pendent thickened portion of smaller diameter relatively than the article to which it is applied is to secure an air-tight-fitting cover for the vessel, such as will exclude air, dust, odors, flavors, insect-s, &c. The thickened portion of the cover or cap is provided at a suitable point or points with an enlargement or swell O, which has in its outer face a vertical slot or opening 0, preferably having rounded or beveled edges. This slot or opening communicates at its rear with a larger opening D, which is approximately circular in shape, thus forming gripping-jaws C 0 but the slot may be simply a vertical opening with straight walls in the periphery of the elastic cap, and the larger opening D may be omitted, if desired.

When the cover is stretched or distended and placed on a cup or glass, the opening in the enlargement or swell forms a recess for a spoon or other article, as clearly shown in the drawings. The shank of the spoon is introduced into the slot 0 and is guided into the enlarged opening D, where it remains held by the elasticity and gripping action of the jaws G 0 but if the opening should be larger than the shank of the spoon the spoon will drop downwardlyuntil the handle of same rests upon the top of the enlargement O and its jaws C 0 where it will rest securely.

It is a common practice in sick-rooms, hospitals, &c., to place medicines, custards, water, &c., in cups or glasses and cover them with a napkin or a piece of paper; but as such an arrangement does not exclude air, &c., and as the atmosphere in such places is more or less tainted it'will be readily under stood that my device provides an effectual means whereby the deleterious effects of eX- posure to such injurious influences are obviated and prevented. It is also a common practice to put cups or glasses containing liquids, foods, &c., in refrigerators in the same compartment with meats and vegetables, which may become tainted, and thus injuriously affect the contents of said cups or glasses. My

invention, it will be noted, will effectually I prevent this.

Another use to which my invention may be put is at soda-fountains where soda-water is sold and is to be carried to people at a considerable distance. With my device applied to the top of glass containing soda-water the glass and its contents may be carried to a considerable distance and yet retain the gases which the soda-water usually contains, and a spoon to stir the contents or remove the same may be held in slot of the elastic cover.

The enlargement or swell having the opening and jaws which receive the spoon makes my device a particularly desirable adjunct to the sick-room, as the medicine and means for administering the same are at all times conveniently at hand.

I do not confine the application of my device to any particular receptacle nor to any particular shape.

My device makes a perfectly air-tight cov ering and one that is cheap and easily attached or detached. It may be used as a cover for jars, cups, jelly-glasses, and various other articles, and the thickened edge which has the enlargement or swell wherein the spoon is held forms a convenient means for attaching and detaching the same.

If desired, the cover may be made with its side walls of sufficient thickness from top to bottom to have the slots or openings out therein, as shown in Fig. 6. The thickened portion instead of being located at the lower edge of the cover may be made at the upper edge of the cover in the form of a horizontally-projecting flange, as shown in Fig. 7, or the flange may project from the side wall between its top and bottom, as shown in Fig. 8.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Acover for vessels comprisinga cap having a thickened portion pendent therefrom and an opening or slot in said thickened portion the walls of said opening or slot forming gripping-jaws.

2. A cover for vessels comprising an elastic top portion, a central portion pendent therefrom, a thickened portion at the lower end of the central portion, said thickened portion forming an annular ring or head and being of less diameter than the upper portion of the cap, aslot or opening in said ring or bead, the side walls of said slot or opening forming gripping-jaws.

3. A cover for vessels comprising an elastic cap having a thickened lower portion, an enlargement or swell in said thickened portion, a slot or opening in said enlargement or swell, and jaws adjacent to said slot or opening adapted to grasp a spoon or other article.

4:. A cover for vessels comprising an elastic cap, enlargements or swells in its'periphery, a slot or opening in said enlargements or swells, and gripping-jaws adjacent to the slot or opening adapted to grasp a spoon or other article.

5. A cover for vessels comprising an elastic cap, provided with a vertical slot or slots in its periphery, forming grippingjaws adapted to receive and grasp a spoon or other article.

6. A cover for vessels comprising an elastic cap, having a thickened lower end, an enlargement or swell in the periphery of said thickened end, a vertical slot or opening in the edge of said enlargement, a circular opening in the rear of said vertical slot and com municating therewith, and jaws adjacent to the vertical slot and circular opening, adapted to receive and secure a spoon or other article, the said cap being adapted to tightly grasp the upper edge of a vessel and render the same air-tight substantially as shown and described.

7. A cover for vessels comprising an elastic cap, a flange projecting horizontally therefrom, a slot or openingin said flange, elastic side walls adjacent to said slot or opening forming elastic jaws to receive and grasp a spoon or other article.

8. A cover for vessels comprising an elastic cap, having a lower thickened edge, an enlargement or swell in said thickened portion, a vertical slot having beveled or rounded front faces, an enlarged opening in rear of said vertical slot, and communicating therewith, and elastic gripping-jaws adjacent to said vertical slot and opening, substantially as shown and described.

9. A cover for vessels comprising an elastic cap, an integral swell or enlargement in the periphery thereof, and slot or opening in said swell or enlargement forming gripping-jaws, adapted to receive and grasp a spoon or other article.

FRANK LEE JOBSON.

Witnesses:

FRANK T. SUTTON, J r., N. THOMAS MosBY. 

